Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)

The Whirlpool Galaxy, known as M51 in Charles Messiers catalogue, was discovered 1773. This spiral galaxy shines at 8.4mag from a distance of 15 million lightyears in the constallation of Canes Venatici. The main object ist interacting with its companian, NGC 5194.

This image shows the famous spiral galaxy in field of about 3°x3° with various background galaxies. North is left in this image.